Southern Fried Catfish

Ingredients

• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3/4 cup beer, do NOT use dark beer
• 2 lbs catfish fillets, split down the middle
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup rice flour
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh ground black pepper
• peanut oil (for frying)

Directions

1. 1

   Combine buttermilk and beer in a nonreactive bowl.

2. 2

   Add the catfish fillets and refrigerate for 2 hours, BUT NO LONGER.

3. 3

   Combine cornmeal, all-purpose flour, rice flour, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and mix well.

4. 4

   Drain fillets and toss them lightly in the breading mixture to coat them.

5. 5

   Place the breaded fillets in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with wax paper and don't let the fillets touch. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

6. 6

   Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.

7. 7

   On the stove, pour enough oil into a heavy skillet so that it is 2 inches deep and heat it so that it is 355 degrees F. on a frying thermometer.

8. 8

   Carefully drop fillets in, 2 at a time and fry them for about 2 1/2 minutes on each side or until they are just golden.

9. 9

   Remove the fillets with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain.

10. 10

    Transfer the fillets to a platter and keep warm in the preheated oven until they are all fried.

11. 11

    Work quickly so that they don't get overdone and serve immediately.